Sustainable Systems Engineering and Assessment: Nordic perspectives

Education

In the first semester, you gain a strong foundation in sustainability science. You will explore how renewable resources can be used for energy and products, learn the basics of green entrepreneurship, and develop an understanding of circular economy principles and sustainable resource utilisation.

The second semester deepens your knowledge of how to analyse and improve complex systems from a sustainable development perspective. You will study how societies and people can transform towards sustainability, apply optimisation methods to energy systems, and work with environmental and sustainability assessment tools.

During the third semester, you have the flexibility to tailor your studies by choosing elective courses that match your interests. Alongside this, you will complete a research and development project.

In the final semester, you conduct an independent master’s thesis project, where you apply your knowledge to real-world challenges, often in collaboration with industry or research groups.

Form of Instruction

The program is designed to encourage you to play an active role in your own learning process. This is achieved through a variety of pedagogical models and teaching methods, including lectures, seminars, workshops, group projects, training in dedicated softwares, laboratory work, independent assignments, and study visits to nearby sites and industries of importance to our courses. As an international programme, all instruction is delivered in English. While written examinations may be completed in either English or Swedish, all oral presentations, discussions, and examinations are conducted in English. You can expect scheduled activities three to five days per week. In addition to these, independent study is essential, with the overall workload corresponding to a full-time commitment of approximately 40 hours per week. All lectures are held on campus at Karlstad University.

Examination

The program contains a mix of examination forms, matching the variety in pedagogical models and teaching methods applied. On-campus written, often digital, examinations reccur in most courses. These are supplemented by oral and/or written presentations of group projects and individual assignments, and active participation in e.g. literature seminars.

Professional Contact

During the program, students are offered various opportunities to connect with professional life, for example through networks, fairs, guest lectures, study visits and through thesis and project work.